Sachin Maharaj: Duncan Green

Duncan Green: Schools must break the cycle of poverty, Opinion Dec. 18, according to The Star. The best teachers are not necessarily the most credentialed ones. I had other English teachers with MAs, but they failed to motivate those of us who werent motivated at home. The best, like Duncan Green, are too soon moved out of the classroom. Merit pay, in some form needs to brought in, no matter the opposition or administrative hurdles. The socio-economically disadvantaged will benefit. And, society will benefit by the increase in educated human capital and Re: Schools must break the cycle of poverty, Opinion Dec. 18 Sachin Maharaj demonstrates a logical analysis and solution for how the educational system can help pull children out of poverty. As a former inner-city student in downtown Toronto with our conditioned reflexive aversion to reading, I had to wait until Grade 13 at Jarvis Collegiate Institute to be motivated to read by an energized, dedicated English teacher whose obvious love for his subject was contagious. Duncan Green, who passed away last year, used to say with a sparkle in his eye, I dont care if you just read the labels on cereal boxes as long as you read. Maharaj is right that we need the best teachers teaching our neediest students. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.